Display device

ABSTRACT

A display device includes a display panel; a front cover including a front part covering an edge of a front surface of the display panel, a side part extended from the front part and covering a side surface of the display panel, and a guide protruded from the side part and contacting the side surface of the display panel; wherein the guide extends in a direction in parallel with the side surface of the display panel, and wherein a gap is formed between the guide and the side part of the front cover.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/989,152 filed on Aug. 10, 2020, which is a Continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 16/204,086 filed on Nov. 29, 2018 (now U.S.Pat. No. 10,768,458 issued on Sep. 8, 2020), which claims the prioritybenefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) to Korean Patent Application No.10-2018-0034470 filed in the Republic of Korea on Mar. 26, 2018, all ofwhich are hereby expressly incorporated by reference into the presentapplication.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to a display device.

Discussion of the Related Art

With the development of the information society, various demands fordisplay devices are increasing. Various display devices, such as liquidcrystal displays (LCDs), plasma display panels (PDPs),electroluminescent displays (ELDs), and vacuum fluorescent displays(VFDs), have been recently studied and used in response to the variousdemands for the display devices.

A display device using an organic light emitting diode (OLED) isadvantageous in that it has better luminance characteristic and viewingangle characteristic than a liquid crystal display, and has a ultra-thinprofile because it does not require a backlight unit unlike the liquidcrystal display.

Recently, studies have been actively conducted to improve an assemblingstructure of a display device while securing rigidity of the displaydevice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present disclosure is to address the above-describedand other problems. Another object of the present disclosure is toprovide a display device capable of improving constraints of astructural design.

Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a display devicein which a display panel is coupled to a front cover.

Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a display devicein which an optical sheet is coupled to a front cover.

Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a display devicein which a frame is coupled to a front cover.

Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a display devicein which a back cover is coupled to a front cover.

Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a display devicein which a number of components is reduced.

Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a display devicewith a reduced thickness.

Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a display devicehaving a structure capable of increasing efficiency of an assemblyprocess.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a displaydevice comprising: a display panel; a front cover including a front partcovering an edge of a front surface of the display panel, a side partextended from the front part and covering a side surface of the displaypanel, and a guide protruding from the side part and contacting the sidesurface of the display panel; a frame including a rear part positionedin a rear of the display panel and a supporting part extended from therear part and supporting a rear surface of the display panel; and a backcover positioned in the rear of the frame and coupled to the side partof the front cover, wherein the side part of the front cover is coupledto the frame.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the displaydevice may further comprise a pad positioned between the front part andthe front surface of the display panel and fixed to the front part.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the front covermay include a groove formed on the front part and facing the displaypanel, and the pad may be accommodated in the groove.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the front partmay include a first part including the groove and a second part bentrearward from the first part, and the side part may be extended from thesecond part.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the frame mayinclude a first hole facing the front part. The front cover may includea hook portion positioned between the side surface of the display paneland the side part, protruding rearward from the front part, and passingthrough the first hole.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the displaydevice may further comprise an optical sheet including a second holefacing the first hole, the optical sheet being positioned between thedisplay panel and the frame. The hook portion may pass through thesecond hole.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the displaydevice may further comprise a reflective sheet including a third holefacing the first hole, the reflective sheet being positioned between thedisplay panel and the frame. The hook portion may pass through the thirdhole.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the front covermay include a fourth hole formed in the side part. The frame may includea second side part extended rearward from the supporting part, facingthe side part of the front cover that is a first side part, and adjacentto the side part and a protrusion protruding from the second side parttoward the first side part of the front cover and inserted into thefourth hole.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the frame mayinclude a fifth hole formed in the supporting part. The front cover mayinclude a rib protruding rearward from the first front part and insertedinto the fifth hole.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the front covermay include a latching jaw protruding from the side part to an outside.The back cover may include a third part facing the frame, a fourth partextended forward from the third part, and a hook protruding from thefourth part to an inside of the fourth part and catching on the latchingjaw.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the front covermay include a second latching jaw protruding from the side part to aninside. The back cover may include a third part facing the frame, afourth part extended forward from the third part, and a second hookprotruding from the fourth part to an inside of the fourth part andcatching on the second latching jaw.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the frame mayinclude an opening formed in the side vertical part. The second latchingjaw may be positioned in the opening.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the second hookmay include a fifth part and a sixth part adjacent to the fifth part.The second latching jaw may be caught between the fifth part and thesixth part.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the fourth partmay include a first subpart extended forward from the third part, thefirst subpart including the second hook, and a second subpart extendedforward from the first subpart and covering the side part.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the displaydevice may further comprise a backlight unit positioned between thedisplay panel and the frame and providing light to the display panel.

Effects of a display device according to the present disclosure aredescribed as follows.

According to at least one aspect of the present disclosure, a displaypanel can be coupled to a front cover.

According to at least one aspect of the present disclosure, an opticalsheet can be coupled to a front cover.

According to at least one aspect of the present disclosure, a frame canbe coupled to a front cover.

According to at least one aspect of the present disclosure, a back covercan be coupled to a front cover.

According to at least one aspect of the present disclosure, the numberof components can be reduced.

According to at least one aspect of the present disclosure, a thicknessof a display device can be reduced.

According to at least one aspect of the present disclosure, efficiencyof an assembly process of a display device can be increased.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, that may be included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the disclosure andtogether with the description serve to explain various principles of thedisclosure.

FIGS. 1 to 30 illustrate examples of configuration of a display deviceaccording to an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail embodiments of the disclosureexamples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Sincethe present disclosure may be modified in various ways and may havevarious forms, specific embodiments are illustrated in the drawings andare described in detail in the present specification. However, it shouldbe understood that the present disclosure is not limited to specificdisclosed embodiments, but include all modifications, equivalents andsubstitutes included within the spirit and technical scope of thepresent disclosure.

The terms ‘first’, ‘second’, etc. may be used to describe variouscomponents, but the components are not limited by such terms. The termsare used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from othercomponents. For example, a first component may be designated as a secondcomponent without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Inthe same manner, the second component may be designated as the firstcomponent.

The term “and/or” encompasses both combinations of the plurality ofrelated items disclosed and any item from among the plurality of relateditems disclosed.

When an arbitrary component is described as “being connected to” or“being linked to” another component, this should be understood to meanthat still another component(s) may exist between them, although thearbitrary component may be directly connected to, or linked to, thesecond component. In contrast, when an arbitrary component is describedas “being directly connected to” or “being directly linked to” anothercomponent, this should be understood to mean that no component existsbetween them.

The terms used in the present application are used to describe onlyspecific embodiments or examples, and are not intended to limit thepresent disclosure. A singular expression can include a pluralexpression as long as it does not have an apparently different meaningin context.

In the present application, the terms “include” and “have” should beunderstood to be intended to designate that illustrated features,numbers, steps, operations, components, parts or combinations thereofexist and not to preclude the existence of one or more differentfeatures, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts or combinationsthereof, or the possibility of the addition thereof.

Unless otherwise specified, all of the terms which are used herein,including the technical or scientific terms, have the same meanings asthose that are generally understood by a person having ordinaryknowledge in the art to which the present disclosure pertains. The termsdefined in a generally used dictionary must be understood to havemeanings identical to those used in the context of a related art, andare not to be construed to have ideal or excessively formal meaningsunless they are obviously specified in the present application.

The following exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure areprovided to those skilled in the art in order to describe the presentdisclosure more completely. Accordingly, shapes and sizes of elementsshown in the drawings may be exaggerated for clarity.

In the following description, wherever possible, the same referencenumbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same orlike parts, and duplicated description thereof will be omitted.

In the following description, if an embodiment is described withreference to a specific figure, reference numbers not shown in thespecific figure may be mentioned, if necessary or desired. However, thereference numbers not shown in the specific figure may be mentioned onlywhen the reference numbers are shown in other figures.

In general, a suffix such as “module” and “unit” may be used to refer toelements or components. Use of such a suffix herein is merely intendedto facilitate description of the specification, and the suffix itself isnot intended to give any special meaning or function.

It will be noted that a detailed description of known arts will beomitted if it is determined that the detailed description of the knownarts can obscure embodiments of the disclosure.

Further, terms such as height, length, and width used in embodiments ofthe disclosure may be interchangeable for convenience of explanation.The terms do not have their meanings or roles that are distinguishedfrom each other.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the disclosure will be described using aliquid crystal display panel as an example of a display panel. However,embodiments are not limited thereto.

Referring to FIG. 1, a display device 100 may include a first long sideLS1, a second long side LS2 opposite the first long side LS1, a firstshort side SS1 adjacent to the first long side LS1 and the second longside LS2, and a second short side SS2 opposite the first short side SS1.

The first short side SS1 may be referred to as a first side area; thesecond short side SS2 may be referred to as a second side area oppositethe first side area; the first long side LS1 may be referred to as athird side area which is adjacent to the first side area and the secondside area and is positioned between the first side area and the secondside area; and the second long side LS2 may be referred to as a fourthside area which is adjacent to the first side area and the second sidearea, is positioned between the first side area and the second sidearea, and is opposite to the third side area.

Embodiments of the disclosure describe that lengths of the first andsecond long sides LS1 and LS2 are longer than lengths of the first andsecond short sides SS1 and SS2 for convenience of explanation. However,the lengths of the first and second long sides LS1 and LS2 may be equalto or almost equal to the lengths of the first and second short sidesSS1 and SS2.

A first direction DR1 may be a direction parallel to the long sides LS1and LS2 of a display panel 110. A second direction DR2 may be adirection parallel to the short sides SS1 and SS2 of the display panel110. A third direction DR3 may be a direction vertical to the firstdirection DR1 and/or the second direction DR2.

The first direction DR1 and the second direction DR2 may be commonlyreferred to as a horizontal direction. The third direction DR3 may bereferred to as a vertical direction.

A side, on which a display device displays an image, may be referred toas a forward direction, a front side, or a front surface. When thedisplay device displays an image, a side at which the image cannot beviewed may be referred to as a rearward direction, a rear side, or arear surface. When the display device is observed at the forwarddirection, the front side, or the front surface, the first long side LS1may be referred to as an upper side or an upper surface. The second longside LS2 may be referred to as a lower side or a lower surface. Further,the first short side SS1 may be referred to as a right side or a rightsurface, and the second short side SS2 may be referred to as a left sideor a left surface.

The first long side LS1, the second long side LS2, the first short sideSS1, and the second short side SS2 may be referred to as edges of thedisplay device 100. Further, positions where the first long side LS1,the second long side LS2, the first short side SS1, and the second shortside SS2 meet each other may be referred to as corners. For example, aposition where the first long side LS1 and the first short side SS1 meeteach other may be referred to as a first corner Cl, a position where thefirst long side LS1 and the second short side SS2 meet each other may bereferred to as a second corner C2, a position where the second shortside SS2 and the second long side LS2 meet each other may be referred toas a third corner C3, and a position where the second long side LS2 andthe first short side SS1 meet each other may be referred to as a fourthcorner C4.

A direction from the first short side SS1 to the second short side SS2or a direction from the second short side SS2 to the first short sideSS1 may be referred to as a left-right direction LR. A direction fromthe first long side LS1 to the second long side LS2 or a direction fromthe second long side LS2 to the first long side LS1 may be referred toas an up-down direction UD.

The X-axis may be parallel to the first direction. The Y-axis may beparallel to the second direction. The Z-axis may be parallel to thethird direction. The +X-axis may face the right side, and the −X-axismay face the left side. The +Y-axis may face the upper side, and the−Y-axis may face the lower side. The +Z-axis may face the front side,and the −Z-axis may face the rear side.

The display panel 110 may display an image in the forward direction. Afront cover 140 may be fastened to a back cover 150. The display panel110 may be positioned between the front cover 140 and the back cover150.

Referring to FIG. 2, the front cover 140 may have a quadrilateral shape.The front cover 140 may be referred to as a front case 140. The frontcover 140 may include an opening 140 a. The opening 140 a may have aquadrilateral shape. The front cover 140 may include a horizontal part140H and a vertical part 140V. The horizontal part 140H may include afirst horizontal part 140H1 and a second horizontal part 140H2. Thefirst horizontal part 140H1 and the second horizontal part 140H2 may beconnected obliquely.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a pad 140 b may be positioned on a rearsurface of the first horizontal part 140H1. The pad 140 b may be formedalong the perimeter of the front cover 140. The pad 140 b may beadjacent to or in contact with a front surface of the display panel 110.The first horizontal part 140H1 may include a groove 140 c, and the pad140 b may be positioned in the groove 140 c. A protrusion 141 mayprotrude from the vertical part 140V. The protrusion 141 may be referredto as a guide 141 or a panel guide 141. The plurality of protrusions 141may be formed along the perimeter of the front cover 140. The protrusion141 may be formed in a corner area of the front cover 140. Theprotrusion 141 may be adjacent to or in contact with the side of thedisplay panel 110. A hole 143 may be formed in the vertical part 140V.The hole 143 may be referred to as a coupling hole 143, a couplingportion 143, or a fastening portion 143. The plurality of holes 143 maybe formed along the perimeter of the front cover 140. The hole 143 maybe formed in the corner area of the front cover 140.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 5, a protrusion 142 may protrude from the firsthorizontal part 140H1. The protrusion 142 may be referred to as a hookportion 142, a latching portion 142, a hook 142, or a coupling portion142. The plurality of protrusions 142 may be formed along the perimeterof the front cover 140.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 6, a protrusion 144 may protrude from the firsthorizontal part 140H1 or the vertical part 140V. The protrusion 144 maybe referred to as a guide 144 or a rib 144. A protrusion 145 mayprotrude from a corner area formed by the first horizontal part 140H1and the vertical part 140V. The plurality of protrusions 145 may beformed along the perimeter of the front cover 140. The protrusion 145may protrude from the vertical part 140V. The protrusion 145 may bereferred to as a coupling portion 145, a fastening portion 145, or acoupling protrusion 145. The plurality of protrusions 145 may be formedalong the perimeter of the front cover 140.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 7, a groove 146 a may be formed on an outersurface of the vertical part 140V. The groove 146 a may be referred toas a stepped portion 146 a. A protrusion 146 b may protrude from thegroove 146 a. The groove 146 a and the protrusion 146 b may becollectively referred to as a latching portion 146, a protrusion 146, acoupling portion 146, a hook 146, a latching jaw 146, or a fasteningportion 146. The plurality of latching portions 146 may be formed alongthe perimeter of the front cover 140.

Referring to FIG. 8, the display panel 110 may be coupled to the frontcover 140. The display panel 110 may be positioned in the rear of thefront cover 140. The display panel 110 may be provided on the frontsurface of the display device 100 and can display an image. The displaypanel 110 can display an image by outputting red, green, and blue lightfrom each of a plurality of pixels at proper timing. The display panel110 may be divided into an active area on which an image is displayed,and a de-active area on which the image is not displayed. The displaypanel 110 may include a front substrate and a rear substrate that arepositioned opposite each other with a liquid crystal layer interposedtherebetween.

The front substrate may include the plurality of pixels each includingred, green, and blue subpixels. The front substrate may output lightcorresponding to red, green, or blue color in response to a controlsignal.

The rear substrate may include switching elements. The rear substratemay switch on and off pixel electrodes. For example, the pixelelectrodes may change a molecule arrangement of the liquid crystal layerin response to a control signal received from the outside. The liquidcrystal layer may include liquid crystal molecules. The arrangement ofthe liquid crystal molecules may be changed corresponding to a voltagedifference between the pixel electrode and a common electrode. Theliquid crystal layer may transfer light provided by a light source 124(see FIG. 17) to the front substrate, or may shield the light.

Referring to FIG. 9, a front surface of the display panel 110 may facethe first horizontal part 140H1. The guide 141 may be adjacent to or incontact with the side surface of the display panel 110. The guide 141may be adjacent to or in contact with a corner area of the display panel110. The guide 141 may align or guide a location of the display panel110.

Referring to FIG. 10, an optical sheet 125 may be coupled to the frontcover 140. The optical sheet 125 may be referred to as a composite sheet125. The optical sheet 125 may include a flat portion 125 a having aquadrilateral shape and an ear 125 b coupled to the flat portion 125 a.The plurality of ears 125 b may be formed along the perimeter of theflat portion 125 a. The ear 125 b may include a hole 125 c. The opticalsheet 125 can diffuse light emitted from the light source 124 (see FIG.17). The optical sheet 125 can refract or concentrate light emitted fromthe light source 124. The optical sheet 125 can simultaneously perform afunction of a diffusion sheet and a function of a prism sheet.

Referring to FIG. 11, the hook portion 142 may pass through the hole 125c. The ear 125 b may be formed at a location corresponding to the hookportion 142. The optical sheet 125 can be coupled to the front cover 140by catching on the hook portion 142. The optical sheet 125 may face therear surface of the display panel 110.

Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, a frame 130 may include a flat portion130P, an inclined portion 130I, a horizontal portion 130H, or a verticalportion 130V. The flat portion 130P may have a quadrilateral shape. Theinclined portion 130I may be extended forward at the perimeter of theflat portion 130P. The inclined portion 130I may be obliquely coupled tothe flat portion 130P. The horizontal portion 130H may be extended fromthe inclined portion 130I. The horizontal portion 130H may be parallelto the flat portion 130P. The vertical portion 130V may be extendedrearward from the horizontal portion 130H. The vertical portion 130V andthe horizontal portion 130H may be perpendicular to each other. Thehorizontal portion 130H may include an ear 131 a. The plurality of ears131 a may be formed along a lower side of the frame 130. The ear 131 amay include a hole 132. The hole 132 may be formed in the horizontalportion 130H. The plurality of holes 132 may be formed along theperimeter of the frame 130. The flat portion 130P may include aprotrusion 136 protruding forward. The protrusion 136 may be referred toas a projection 136 or a guide 136. The plurality of protrusions 136 maybe formed. An electronic substrate for driving the display device 100may be fastened to a rear surface of the frame 130.

Referring to FIGS. 12 and 14, the frame 130 may include a hole 134. Thehole 134 may be formed in the horizontal portion 130H or the verticalportion 130V. The hole 134 may be formed in a corner area formed by thehorizontal portion 130H and the vertical portion 130V. The hole 134 maybe formed over the horizontal portion 130H and the vertical portion130V. The plurality of holes 134 may be formed along the perimeter ofthe frame 130.

Referring to FIGS. 12 and 15, the frame 130 may include a hole 135. Thehole 135 may be referred to as an opening 135, an indentation 135 or adepression 135. The hole 135 may partition the vertical portion 130V.The hole 135 may be opened rearward. The hole 135 may be formed in thehorizontal portion 130H or the vertical portion 130V. The hole 135 maybe formed in a corner area formed by the horizontal portion 130H and thevertical portion 130V. The hole 135 may be formed over the horizontalportion 130H and the vertical portion 130V. The plurality of holes 135may be formed along the perimeter of the frame 130.

Referring to FIGS. 12 and 16, a protrusion 133 may be formed in thevertical portion 130V. The protrusion 133 may be referred to as acoupling portion 133, a hook 133, a latching jaw 133, or a fasteningportion 133. The protrusion 133 may protrude to the outside of the frame130. The protrusion 133 may be formed by pressing the vertical portion130V. The plurality of protrusions 133 may be formed along the perimeterof the frame 130.

Referring to FIG. 17, the substrate 122 may be fastened to the flatportion 130P. The substrate 122 may be extended along the long side ofthe frame 130. The light source 124 may be mounted on the substrate 122.The plurality of light sources 124 may be formed along the substrate122. The light source 124 may provide light forward. A reflective sheet126 may include holes 126 c, 126 d, and 126 e. The hole 126 c may beformed at a location corresponding to the light source 124. The hole 126e may be formed at a location corresponding to the protrusion 136. Thehole 126 d may be formed at a location corresponding to a pin 127 (seeFIG. 18). The reflective sheet 126 can reflect forward the light emittedfrom the light source 124. The reflective sheet 126 may include at leastone of metal and metal oxide which are a reflective material. Thereflective sheet 126 may include metal and/or metal oxide having a highreflectance, for example, at least one of aluminum (Al), silver (Ag),gold (Au), and titanium dioxide (TiO₂).

The reflective sheet 126 may be formed by depositing and/or coating themetal or the metal oxide. An ink including a metal material may beprinted on the reflective sheet 126. A deposition layer may be formed onthe reflective sheet 126 using a thermal deposition method, anevaporation method, or a vacuum deposition method such as a sputteringmethod. A coating layer and/or a printing layer may be formed on thereflective sheet 126 using a printing method, a gravure coating method,or a silk screen method.

Referring to FIG. 18, the reflective sheet 126 may be coupled to theframe 130. The reflective sheet 126 may include a flat portion 126P, aninclined portion 126I, a horizontal portion 126H, or a vertical portion126V. The flat portion 126P may have a quadrilateral shape. The inclinedportion 126I may be extended forward at the perimeter of the flatportion 126P. The inclined portion 126I may be obliquely coupled to theflat portion 126P. The horizontal portion 126H may be extended from theinclined portion 126I. The horizontal portion 126H may be parallel tothe flat portion 126P. The vertical portion 126V may be extendedrearward from the horizontal portion 126H. The vertical portion 126V andthe horizontal portion 126H may be perpendicular to each other. Thehorizontal portion 126H may include an ear 126 a. The plurality of ears126 a may be formed along a lower side of the reflective sheet 126. Theear 126 a may include a hole 126 b. The protrusion 136 may pass throughthe reflective sheet 126. The protrusion 136 can guide a location of thereflective sheet 126. The pin 127 may be fastened to the frame 130. Thepin 127 may fix the reflective sheet 126 to the frame 130. The holes 126b and 132 may face each other. The reflective sheet 126 can reflectforward light emitted from the light source 124.

Referring to FIG. 19, the frame 130 may be fastened to the front cover140. The frame 130 may be fastened to the front cover 140 in a statewhere the frame 130 is fastened to the substrate 122, the light source124, or the reflective sheet 126. The frame 130 may be positioned in therear of the front cover 140.

Referring to FIGS. 20 and 21, the vertical portions 140V and 130V may beadjacent to or in contact with each other. The protrusion 145 may belocated in the hole 135.

Referring to FIGS. 20 and 22, the rib 144 may be inserted into the hole134. A position of the frame 130 can be guided by inserting the rib 144into the hole 134.

Referring to FIGS. 20 and 23, the protrusion 133 may be inserted intothe hole 143. The frame 130 can be fastened to the front cover 140 byinserting the protrusion 133 into the hole 143.

Referring to FIGS. 24 and 25, the hook portion 142 may face the sidesurface of the display panel 110. The hook portion 142 may pass throughthe optical sheet 125, the reflective sheet 126, or the frame 130. Thehook portion 142 may pass through the holes 125a, 126 b, and 132. Thedisplay panel 110 may be positioned between the pad 140 b and theoptical sheet 125. The frame 130 may be fastened to the front cover 140.The protrusion 133 may be inserted into the hole 143. The pad 140 b, thedisplay panel 110, the optical sheet 125, and the reflective sheet 126can be pressurized by fastening the frame 130 to the front cover 140.The pad 140 b, the display panel 110, the optical sheet 125, and thereflective sheet 126 may be fixed between the frame 130 and the frontcover 140.

Referring to FIG. 26, the back cover 150 may include a flat portion150P, an inclined portion 150I, or a vertical portion 150V. The flatportion 150P may have a quadrilateral shape. The inclined portion 150Imay be extended forward from an upper side or a side of the flat portion150P. The inclined portion 150I may be obliquely coupled to the flatportion 150P. The vertical portion 150V may be extended forward from theinclined portion 150I. The vertical portion 150V may be extended forwardat a lower side of the flat portion 150P. A coupling portion 155 may beformed on the inclined portion 150I. The coupling portion 155 may bereferred to as a fastening portion 155. The coupling portion 155 mayinclude a first part 155 a and a second part 155 b. The first part 155 aand the second part 155 b may be adjacent to each other. The first part155 a and the second part 155 b may have a hook shape. The plurality ofcoupling portions 155 may be formed along the inclined portion 155I. Aprotrusion 156 may protrude inward from the vertical portion 155V. Theprotrusion 156 may be referred to as a coupling portion 156, a fasteningportion 156, a latching jaw 156, a latching portion 156, or a hook 156.The plurality of protrusions 156 may be formed along the verticalportion 150V.

Referring to FIG. 27, the back cover 150 may be fastened to the frontcover 140. The back cover 150 may be positioned in the rear of the frontcover 140. The display panel 110, the optical sheet 125, the reflectivesheet 126, and the frame 130 may be positioned between the back cover150 and the front cover 140.

Referring to FIG. 28, the back cover 150 may be fastened to the frontcover 140. The back cover 150 may include a port, a power input port,etc. for being connected to an external device on its back surface.

Referring to FIG. 29, the protrusions 146 b and 156 may be engaged witheach other. The second horizontal part 140H2 and the protrusion 146 bcan fix the vertical part 150V. The back cover 150 can be fastened tothe front cover 140 by engaging the protrusions 146 b and 156 with eachother.

Referring to FIG. 30, the coupling portion 155 may be engaged with theprotrusion 145. The protrusion 145 may be positioned between the firstpart 155 a and the second part 155 b. The back cover 150 can be fastenedto the front cover 140 by engaging the coupling portion 155 with theprotrusion 145.

The optical sheet 125, the substrate 122, and the light source 124 maybe collectively referred to as a backlight unit. The backlight unit mayinclude at least one of an optical sheet, a substrate, a light source,and a light guide plate. The light source may be a direct type lightsource or an edge type light source. The backlight unit can providelight to the display panel 110. The backlight unit may be driven in anentire driving method or a partial driving method, such as a localdimming method and an impulsive driving method.

The number of components of the display device 100 can be reduced bycoupling the display panel 110, the optical sheet 125, the frame 130,the back cover 150, etc. to the front cover 140. For example, the frontcover 140 may replace a function of a guide panel. In addition, athickness of the display device 100 can be reduced by reducing thenumber of components of the display device 100.

The assembly process efficiency of the display device 100 can beincreased by coupling the display panel 110, the optical sheet 125, theframe 130, the back cover 150, etc. to the front cover 140. For example,the assembly process can be simplified and the assembly process speedcan be increased by disposing the front cover 140 at the bottom andstacking the other components on the front cover 140.

The foregoing embodiments are merely examples and are not to beconsidered as limiting the present disclosure. The present teachings canbe readily applied to other types of methods and apparatuses. Thefeatures, structures, methods, and other characteristics of theembodiments described herein may be combined in various ways to obtainadditional and/or alternative embodiments.

Certain embodiments or other embodiments of the disclosure describedabove are not mutually exclusive or distinct from each other. Any or allelements of embodiments of the disclosure described above may becombined or combined with each other in configuration or function.

For example, a configuration “A” described in one embodiment of thedisclosure and the drawings and a configuration “B” described in anotherembodiment of the disclosure and the drawings may be combined with eachother. Namely, although the combination between the configurations isnot directly described, the combination is possible except in the casewhere it is described that the combination is impossible.

Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number ofillustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerousother modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled inthe art that will fall within the scope of the principles of thisdisclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications arepossible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subjectcombination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawingsand the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications inthe component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also beapparent to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. A display device comprising: a display panel; anda front cover including a front part covering an edge of a front surfaceof the display panel, a side part extended from the front part andcovering a side surface of the display panel, and a guide protruded fromthe side part and contacting the side surface of the display panel,wherein the guide extends in a direction in parallel with the sidesurface of the display panel, and wherein a gap is formed between theguide and the side part of the front cover.
 2. The display device ofclaim 1, further comprising: a frame including a rear part positioned ata rear of the display panel and a supporting part extended from the rearpart and supporting a rear surface of the display panel; and a backcover positioned at the rear of the frame and coupled to the frontcover, wherein the front cover is coupled to the frame.
 3. The displaydevice of claim 1, wherein the guide and the side part of the frontcover are integrally formed.
 4. The display device of claim 1, whereinboth ends of the guide are rounded such that the both ends of the guideare apart from the side surface of the display panel and a centralportion of the guide between the both ends contacts the side surface ofthe display panel.
 5. The display device of claim 1, further comprisinga pad positioned between the front part and the front surface of thedisplay panel and fixed to the front part.
 6. The display device ofclaim 5, wherein the front cover includes a groove formed on the frontpart and facing the display panel, and wherein the pad is accommodatedin the groove.
 7. The display device of claim 6, wherein the front partincludes: a first part including the groove; and a second part bentrearward from the first part, and wherein the side part is extended fromthe second part.
 8. The display device of claim 2, wherein the frameincludes a first hole facing the front part, and wherein the front coverincludes a hook portion positioned between the side surface of thedisplay panel and the side part, protruding rearward from the frontpart, and passing through the first hole.
 9. The display device of claim8, further comprising an optical sheet including a second hole facingthe first hole, the optical sheet being positioned between the displaypanel and the frame, wherein the hook portion passes through the secondhole.
 10. The display device of claim 8, further comprising a reflectivesheet including a third hole facing the first hole, the reflective sheetbeing positioned between the display panel and the frame, wherein thehook portion passes through the third hole.
 11. The display device ofclaim 2, wherein the front cover includes a fourth hole formed in asecond side part of the front cover, and wherein the frame includes: athird side part extended rearward from the supporting part, facing thesecond side part of the front cover, and adjacent to the second sidepart; and a protrusion protruding from the third side part toward thesecond side part of the front cover and inserted into the fourth hole.12. The display device of claim 11, wherein the frame includes a fifthhole formed in the supporting part, and wherein the front cover includesa rib protruding rearward from the first part and inserted into thefifth hole.
 13. The display device of claim 2, wherein the front coverincludes a latching jaw protruding from the second side part of thefront cover to an outside of the second side part of the front cover,and wherein the back cover includes: a third part facing the frame; afourth part extended forward from the third part; and a hook protrudingfrom the fourth part to an inside of the fourth part and catching on thelatching jaw.
 14. The display device of claim 2, wherein the front coverincludes a second latching jaw protruding from the second side part ofthe front cover to an inside of the second side part of the front cover,and wherein the back cover includes: a third part facing the frame; afourth part extended forward from the third part; and a second hookprotruding from the fourth part to an inside of the fourth part andcatching on the second latching jaw.
 15. The display device of claim 14,wherein the frame includes an opening formed in the third side part, andwherein the second latching jaw is positioned in the opening.
 16. Adisplay device comprising: a display panel; a front cover including afront part covering an edge of a front surface of the display panel, aside part extended from the front part and covering a side surface ofthe display panel, and a guide protruding from the side part andsupporting the side surface of the display panel; and a frame includinga rear part positioned at a rear of the display panel, a supporting partextended from the rear part and supporting a rear surface of the displaypanel, and a vertical part bent from the supporting part, wherein thefront cover includes a coupling slot into which a part of the verticalpart inserted such that the front cover is coupled to the frame, andwherein the coupling slot is opposite to the side surface of the displaypanel with respect to the guide of the front cover.
 17. The displaydevice of claim 16, further comprising a pad positioned between thefront part of the front cover and the front surface of the display paneland fixed to the front part of the front cover, wherein the front coverincludes a groove formed on the front part of the front cover and facingthe display panel, and wherein the pad is accommodated in the groove.18. The display device of claim 17, wherein the front part of the frontcover includes: a first part including the pad; and a second partobliquely extended from the first part, and wherein the side part of thefront cover extends from a rear surface of the front part of the frontcover.
 19. The display device of claim 16, wherein the coupling slot ofthe front cover is formed at the side part of the front cover, andwherein the frame includes: the vertical part facing the side part ofthe front cover, and adjacent to the side part; and a protrusionprotruding from the part of the vertical part and inserted into thecoupling slot.
 20. The display device of claim 16, further comprising aback cover positioned at a rear of the frame and coupled to the frontcover.
 21. The display device of claim 19, wherein the front coverincludes a latching jaw protruding from a side part of the front cover,and wherein the back cover includes: a flat portion facing the frame; aninclined portion extended forward from the flat portion; a verticalportion extended from the inclined portion and facing the vertical partof the frame; and a hook protruding from the vertical portion of theback cover and catching on the latching jaw.